Starch branching enzyme

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new starch branching enzyme, and to the gene encoding the enzyme. In particular, the invention provides a new starch branching enzyme type II from wheat, the nucleic acid encoding the enzyme, and constructs comprising the nucleic acid. The invention also relates to a novel method for identification of branching enzyme type II proteins, which is useful for screening wheat germplasm for null or altered alleles of wheat branching enzyme IIb. The novel gene, protein and methods of the invention are useful in production of plants which produce grain with novel properties for food and industrial applications, for example wheat grain containing high amylose or low amylopectin starch.

This invention relates to a new starch branching enzyme, and to the gene encoding the enzyme. In particular, the invention relates to a new starch branching enzyme type II from wheat. The invention also relates to a novel method for identification of such branching enzyme type II proteins, which is useful for screening wheat germplasm for null or altered alleles of wheat branching enzyme IIb. The novel gene, protein and methods of the invention are useful in production of wheat plants which produce grain with novel properties for food and industrial applications, for example wheat grain containing high amylose or low amylopectin starch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In plants, two classes of genes encode starch branching enzymes, known respectively as BEI, and BEII. In the monocotyledonous cereals, there is strong evidence demonstrating that the BEII class contains two independent types of genes, known in maize as BEIIa and BEIIb (Gao et al., 1996; Fisher et al., 1996). In barley, two types of genes have been reported, and shown to be differentially expressed (Sun et al., 1998), An additional class of branching enzyme (50/51 kD) from barley has also been described (Sun et al., 1996).

In dicotyledonous plants, loss of BEII activity through either mutation (Bhattacharyya et al., 1990) or gene suppression technologies gives rise to starches containing high amylose levels (Safford, 1998, Jobling 1999).

In monocotyledonous plants, mutations giving rise to high amylose contents are known in maize, rice and barley. In neither rice (Mizuno et al., 1993) nor barley (Schondelmaier et al., 1992) have the known high amylose phenotypes been associated with the BEIIa or BEIIb mutations respectively. However, in maize it is firmly established that the high amylose phenotype is associated with down regulation of the BEIIb gene (Boyer et al., 1980; Boyer and Preiss, 1981, Fisher et al, 1996).

The impact of down-regulation of BEI has been investigated through antisense inhibition in potato tuber; the down-regulation has been found to alter the properties of the starch, but not its gross structural features, such as the amylose content (Filpse et al., 1996). In wheat, antisense down-regulation of BEI activity has small but significant effects on starch structure (Baga et al, 1999). The branching enzyme I gene from maize has been cloned (Kim et al., 1998), but mutants affecting branching enzyme I activity in maize are not known.

No mutations specifically reducing BEIIa activity have been reported, and no gene suppression experiments in plants have succeeded in reducing BEIIa activity, although the du1 mutation in maize is known to reduce the expression of both BEIIa and starch synthase III. However, the du1 mutation is now known to be due to mutation of the structural gene for starch synthase III (Gao 1998, Cao 1999).

In our previous patent application No. PCT/AU98/00743 (WO99/14314), we have described the structure of a BEII gene from wheat, which we have subsequently designated the BEIIa gene.

In the present application we describe the isolation of a second BEII gene from wheat, which we have designated the BEIIb gene, and discuss the uses to which this gene sequence can be applied. We have surprisingly found that in wheat the expression level of the various branching enzymes is very different to that in maize and barley. In this specification we show that BEIIb in wheat is expressed at low levels in the soluble fraction of the wheat endosperm, and is predominantly found within the starch granule. This indicates that there are important differences in the regulation of gene expression in wheat compared to other cereals, suggesting that the manipulation of the amylose to amylopectin ratio in wheat will involve the manipulation of more than just the BEIIb gene.

We have also surprisingly found that the BEIIa and BEIIb gene structures are highly conserved with respect to exon size and position, allowing us to prepare DNA-based diagnostics which they can distinguish not only the BEIIa and BEIIb classes of genes, but also the forms of these genes encoded on the A, B and D genomes of wheat, and to identify the BEIIb proteins expressed by the wheat A, B and D genomes, providing an essential tool for the screening of wheat germplasm for null or altered alleles of wheat branching enzyme IIa.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding wheat starch branching enzyme IIb (BEIIb).

Preferably the nucleic acid sequence is a DNA sequence, and may be genomic DNA or cDNA.

Preferably the nucleic acid molecule has the sequence depicted in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:6), or SEQ ID NO:10. It will be clearly understood that the invention also encompasses nucleic acid molecules capable of hybridising to these sequences under at least low stringency hybridization conditions, or a nucleic acid molecule with at least 70% sequence identity to at least one of these sequences. Methods for assessing ability to hybridize and % sequence identity are well known in the art. Even more preferably the nucleic acid molecule is capable of hybridizing thereto under high stringency conditions, or has at least 80%, most preferably at least 90% sequence identity. A nucleic acid molecule having at least 70%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% sequence identity to one or more of these sequences is also within the scope of the invention.

Biologically-active untranslated control sequences of genomic DNA are also within the scope of the invention. Thus the invention also provides the promoter of BEIIb.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a genetic construct comprising a nucleic acid sequence of the invention, a biologically-active fragment thereof, or a fragment thereof encoding a biologically-active fragment of BEIIb operably linked to one or more nucleic acid sequences which are capable of facilitating expression of BEIIb in a plant, preferably a cereal plant. The construct may be a plasmid or a vector, preferably one suitable for use in transformation of a plant. Such a suitable vector is a bacterium of the genus Agrobacterium, preferably Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Methods of transforming cereal plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens are known; see for example Australian Patent No. 667939 by Japan Tobacco Inc.; Australian Patent No. 687863 by Japan Tobacco Inc.; International Patent Application No. PCT/US97/10621 by Monsanto Company; and Tingay et al (1997).

In a third aspect, the invention provides a genetic construct for targeting of a desired gene to endosperm of a cereal plant, and/or for modulating the time of expression of a desired gene in endosperm of a cereal plant, comprising a BEIIb promoter, operatively linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a desired protein, and optionally also operatively linked to one or more additional targeting sequences and/or one or more 3′ untranslated sequences.

The nucleic acid encoding the desired protein may be in either the sense orientation or in the anti-sense orientation. Alternatively it may be a duplex construct, comprising a portion of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the desired protein in both the sense and anti-sense orientations, operably linked by a spacer sequence. It is contemplated that any desired protein which is encoded by a gene which is capable of being expressed in the endosperm of a cereal plant is suitable for use in the invention. Preferably the desired protein is an enzyme of the starch biosynthetic pathway. For example, the antisense sequences of GBSS, starch debranching enzyme, SBE II, low molecular weight glutenin, or grain softness protein I, may be used Preferred sequences for use in sense orientation include those of bacterial isoamylase, bacterial glycogen synthase, or wheat high molecular weight glutenin Bx17.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a wheat BEIIb polypeptide, comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule according to the invention, or a polypeptide having at least 70%, more preferably 80%, even more preferably 90% amino acid sequence identity thereto, and having the biological activity of BEIIb.

The polypeptide may be designed on the basis of amino acid sequences deduced from the nucleic acid sequences of the invention, or may be generated by expression of the wheat BEIIb nucleic acid molecule in a heterologous system. Suitable heterologous systems are very well known in the art, and the skilled person will readily be able to select a system suitable for the particular purpose desired.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides an antibody directed against BEII polypeptide. The antibody may be polyclonal or monoclonal. It will be clearly understood that the invention also encompasses biologically-active antibody fragments, such as Fab, (Fab)₂, and ScFv. Methods for production of antibodies and fragments thereof are very well known in the art.

The antibodies of the invention may be used for identification and separation of BEIIb proteins, for example by affinity electrophoresis. This greatly facilitates the identification and combination of altered forms of BEIIb via analysis of germplasm, and greatly assists plant breeding. The antibodies of the invention are suitable for use in any affinity-based separation system, preferably using methods which overcome interference by amylases. Suitable methods are known in the art.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a plant cell transformed by a genetic construct according to the invention, or a plant derived from such a cell. Additionally, a transformed plant cell may also comprise one or more null alleles for a gene selected from the group consisting of GBSS, BEIIa, and SSII. Preferably the plant is a cereal plant, more preferably wheat or barley.

In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a method of modifying the characteristics of starch produced by a plant, comprising the steps of:

a) increasing the level of expression of BEIIb in the plant, for example by introducing a nucleic acid molecule encoding BEIIb into a host plant, or

b) decreasing the level of expression of BEIIb in the plant, for example by introducing an anti-sense nucleic acid sequence directed to a nucleic acid molecule encoding BEIIb into a host plant.

As is well known in the art, over-expression of a gene can be achieved by introduction of additional copies of the gene, and anti-sense sequences can be used to suppress expression of the protein to which the anti-sense sequence is complementary. Other methods of suppressing expression of genes are known in the art, for example co-suppression, RNA duplex formation, or homologous recombination. It would be evident to the person skilled in the art that sense and anti-sense sequences may be chosen depending on the host plant, so as to effect a variety of different modifications of the characteristics of the starch produced by the plant.

Preferably the plant is a cereal plant, more preferably wheat or barley.

Preferably the branching of the amylopectin component of starch is modified by either of these procedures. More preferably a plant with high amylose content is produced.

In an eighth aspect, the invention provides a method of targeting expression of a desired gene to the endosperm of a cereal plant, comprising the step of transforming the plant with a construct according to the invention.

In a ninth aspect, the invention provides a method of identifying a null or altered allele encoding an enzyme of the starch biosynthetic pathway, comprising the step of subjecting DNA from a plant suspected to possess such an allele to a DNA fingerprinting or amplification assay, which utilizes at least one DNA probe comprising one or more of the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The nucleic acid molecule may be a genomic DNA or a cDNA, and may comprise the full-length coding sequence or a fragment thereof. Any suitable method for identification of BEIIb sequences may be used, including but not limited to PCR, rolling circle amplification, RFLP, and AFLP. Such methods are well known in the art, and any suitable technique may be used.

In a tenth aspect, the invention provides a plant comprising one or more BEIIb null alleles, in combination with one or more other null alleles selected from the group consisting of BEIIa, GBSS, SSII and BEI. Optionally the plant may also comprise a BEIIa or BEIIb gene expressed in either the sense or the anti-sense orientation. The null alleles for BEIIa, GBSS SSII and BEI may be identified using methods described in PCT/AU97/00743.

It will clearly understood that the invention also encompasses products produced from plants according to the invention, including but not limited to whole grain, part grain, flour or starch.

Because of the very close relationship between Aegilops tauschii, formerly known as Triticum tauschii, and wheat, as discussed in PCT/AU97/00743, results obtained with A. tauschii can be directly applied to wheat with little it any modification. Such modification as may be required represents routine trial and error experimentation. Sequences from these genes can be used as probes to identify null or altered alleles in wheat, which can then be used in plant breeding programes to provide modifications of starch characteristics. The novel sequences of the invention can be used in genetic engineering strategies or to introduce a desired gene into a host plant, or to provide anti-sense sequences for suppression of expression of the BEIIb gene in a host plant, in order to modify the characteristics of starch produced by the plant.

While the invention is described in detail in relation to wheat, it will be clearly understood that it is also applicable to other cereal plants of the family Gramineae, such as maize, barley and rice.

Methods for transformation of monocotyledonous plants such as wheat, maize, barley and rice and for regeneration of plants from protoplasts or immature plant embryos are well known in the art. See for example Lazzeri et al, 1991; Jahne et al, 1991 and Wan and Lemaux, 1994 for barley; Wirtzens et al, 1997; Tingay et al, 1997; Canadian Patent Application No. 2092588 by Nehra; Australian Patent Application No. 61781/94 by National Research Council of Canada, and Australian Patents No. 667939 and No. 687863 by Japan Tobacco Co.

The sequences of ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase from barley (Australian Patent Application No. 65392/94), starch debranching enzyme and its promoter from rice (Japanese Patent Publication No. Kokai 6261787 and Japanese Patent Publication No. Kokai 5317057), and starch debranching enzyme from spinach and potato (Australian Patent Application No. 44333/96) are all known.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the sequence of the SBE9 branching enzyme cDNA encodes SBE IIa, cloned from a wheat cv Rosella cDNA library (SEQ ID NO:1).

FIG. 2 shows the sequence of the branching enzyme BEIIa gene (SEQ ID NO:2) contained within the F2 lambda clone isolated from an Aegilops tauschii genomic DNA library.

FIG. 3 shows the results of hybridisation of Aegilops tauschii DNA with probes derived from wSBE II-DA1 type sequences. A. Hybridisation with a probe from SBE9 consisting of exons 5-9. B. Hybridisation with fragment F2.2 (consisting of exons 4-9 and introns 4-8 and part of introns 3 and 9). Enzymes used for the digest were: 1. Bam HI, 2. Dra I, 3. EcoR I, 4. EcoR V. Molecular size markers are indicated.

FIG. 4 shows the alignment of sequences of Intron 5 fragments (SEQ ID NOS 18-21, respectively in order of appearance) from the A, B and D genomes of wheat.

FIG. 5 shows the PCR analysis of A. tauschii genomic clones using Intron V sequences.

FIG. 6 shows the alignment of a 262bp PCR fragment amplified from hexaploid wheat using the primers sr913F and WBE2E6R, and a region from the wheat branching enzyme IIb gene wSBE II-DB1 (SEQ ID NO: 21 aligned with residues 2010-2290 of SEQ ID NO: 5, respectively in order of appearance).

FIG. 7 shows the alignment of barley branching enzyme IIb cDNA (SEQ ID NO: 22), wheat branching enzyme IIb cDNA (residues 802-1146 of SEQ ID NO: 6), and SBE9 (residues 537-645 of SEQ ID NO: 1) sequences with the sequence of the wheat (A. tauschii) branching enzyme IIb gene (residues 2000-3234 of SEQ ID NO: 5).

FIG. 8 shows the partial genomic sequence of a branching enzyme IIb gene from A. tauschii (SEQ ID NO:5).

FIG. 9 shows the sequence of a cDNA for branching enzyme IIb gene from hexaploid wheat (SEQ ID NO: 6).

FIG. 10 shows the sequence alignment of branching enzyme genes (SEQ ID NOS 23-31, respectively in order of appearance). The cDNA sequences used for this analysis were SBE9 (SEQ ID NO: 1; FIG. 1 ), wheat BEIIb cDNA (SEQ ID NO: 6; FIG. 9), Y11282, a wheat branching enzyme sequence (Nair et al. 1997), barley BEIIa (Sun et al. 1998), barley BEIIb (Sun et al. 1998), rice BEIII (Mizuno et al. 1993), rice BEIV (Genbank Accession No. E14723) maize BEIIa (Gao et al. 1997) and maize BEIIb (Gao et al. 1997). The observed N-terminal of wheat (Morell et al., 1997; Y11282) is shown in bold. FIG. 11 shows the dendrogram of BE sequences. The sequences analysed were for wheat Y11282 (Nair et al., 1997), SBE 9 (SEQ ID NO: 1; (FIG. 1), wheat BEIIb (SEQ ID NO: 9; FIG. 9), barley IIa and IIb (Sun et al. 1998), maize IIa (Gao et al. 1997), maize IIb (Fisher et al. 1993), rice III (Mizuno et al. 1993), rice IV (Genbank accession E14723), potato BEI (Khoshnoodi et al. 1997), potato BE II (Cangiano et al 1993), pea BEI and BEII (Burton et al. 1995), E.coli BE (Baecker et al. 1986) and bacillus (Kiel et al 1992). Note that pea BE I and pea BE II sequences correspond to maize BE II and BE I respectively because of differences in nomenclature conventions.

FIG. 12 shows the comparison of exon/intron structure for the BEIIa and BEIIb genes. (1) wheat branching enzyme IIa gene, wSBE II DA1 (2) maize amylose extender BEIIb gene (3) partial wheat branching enzyme IIb gene, wSBE II DB1 (4) partial barley branching enzyme IIb gene.

FIG. 13 shows the results of analysis of the expression of mRNA for the BEIIa and BEIIb genes in wheat. Panel (A): Hybridisation of SBE9 probe to lanes 1 to 3 and hybridisation of wheat BEIIb cDNA probe to lanes 4 to 6 Panel (B): mRNA loading for each lane.

Lanes 1 and 4 contain leaf mRNA; lanes 2 and 5 contain pre-anthesis floret mRNA; lanes 3 and 6 contain mRNA from wheat endosperm collected 15 days after anthesis.

FIG. 14 shows the results of analysis of wheat endosperm branching enzyme IIa by affinity electrophoresis.

Samples: Lanes 1, 4 and 7 contained 20 μg endosperm soluble protein, lanes 2, 5 and 8 contained 30 μg endosperm soluble protein and lanes 3 and 6 contained 10 μg endosperm soluble protein.

FIG. 15 shows the results of non-denaturing gel electrophoresis analysis of branching enzymes in the soluble fraction of wheat endosperm.

Samples were; Lane 1, R6 pre-immune, 1:100; Lane 2, R6 pre-immune, 1:3000; Lane 3, R6, 1:100; Lane 4, R6, 1:1000; Lane 5, R6, 1:3000; Lane 6, 3KLH, 1:2000; Lane 7, 3KLH, 1:5000; Lane 8, R7 pre-immune, 1:1000; Lane 9, R7 pre-immune 1:5000; Lane 10, R7, 1:1000; Lane 11, R7, 1:3000; Lane 12, R7, 1:5000

FIG. 16 shows the results of affinity electrophoresis separation of branching enzyme IIa forms from diverse wheat germplasm using the gel conditions described in FIG. 11 (Panel C). Panel A. Lane 1, Durati, T. durum; Lane 2, A. tauschii, Accession No. 24242; Lane 3, A. tauschii, Accession No. 24095; Lane 4, A. tauschii, Accession No. 24092; Lane 5, Hartog, Triticum aestivum; Lane 6, Rosella, T. aestivum; Lane 7, Corrigin, T. aestivum; Lane 8, Bodallin, T. aestivum; Lane 9, Beulah, T. aestivum; Lane 10 Bindawarra, T. aestivum; Lane 11, Barley (Hordeum vulgare). Panel B. Lane 1: Afghanistan 006, Triticum durum; Lane 2, Persia 20, T. aestivum; Lane 3, Afghanistan 8, T. aestivum; Lane 4, Kashmir 4, T. aestivum; Lane 5, Gandum Sockhak, T. aestivum; Lane 6, Warbler, T. aestivum; Lane 7, Bayles, T. aestivum; Lane 8, Kometa; Lane 9, Kashmir 14, T. aestivum; Lane 10, Rosella, T. aestivum; Lane 11, Kashmir 8, T. aestivum; Lane 12, Beijing 10, T. aestivum; Lane 13, Savannah, T. aestivum; Lane 14, Afghanistan 55-623, T. aestivum; Lane 15, Karizik, T. aestivum; Lane 16, Indore E98, T. durum; Lane 17, Iraq 17, T. durum; Lane 18, Seri 82, T. aestivum: Lane 19, Indore 19, T. aestivum.

FIG. 17 shows the results of two-dimensional separation of the components of the wheat starch granule 88 kD band. The wheat starch granule 88 kDa band was electrophoresed in the first dimension through an SDS-PAGE gel. Lanes were excised, renatured, and placed on top of a non-denaturing PAGE gel and electrophoresed ina second dimension. Two lanes were placed on top of each non-denaturing PAGE gel. (A) protein staining with Coomassie blue reagent (B) Immunoblotting of gels with either 3KLH or R6 antibodies, as indicated on the figure.

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic representation of the BEII genes from various species, showing the exon/intron structure. The dark rectangles represent exons.

FIG. 19 shows the results of PCR amplification of SBE IIb gene from CS nullisomic lines, using the primers ARA 12F and ARA 10R.

FIG. 20 shows the results of PCR amplification of SBE IIb gene, using the primers ARA 6F and ARA 8R from Triticum spp. Lanes: 1) T. monococcum, 2) T. durum, 3) T. urartu, 4) T. tauschii, 5) CSDT2DS, 6) CSDT2BL-9, 7) CSDT2AS and 8) CS.

FIG. 21 shows the alignment of the exon 1-intron 1-exon 2 region of the SBE IIb gene from the A, B and D genomes (SEQ ID NOS 32-34, respectively in order of appearance). ★indicates that the sequence could not be specifically assigned to the A or B genome.

FIG. 22 shows the alignment of the BEIIb sequences from each genome (SEQ ID NOS 35-37, respectively in order of appearance).

FIG. 23 shows the results of PCR amplification of the SBE IIb gene was carried out using the primers ARA 19F and ARA 15R, followed by restriction digestion using Rsa1. Lanes 1) CS, 2) T. monococcum, 3) T. tauschii, 4) CSDT2BL-9, which is missing part of the long arm of chromosome 2B, and 6) CSDT2AS, which is missing the long of chromosome 2A.

FIG. 24 shows the results of PCR amplification of intron 3 region of SBE IIb from wheat lines, using the primers ARA 19F and ARA 23R followed by Rsa 1 digestion. Lane 12 is the null mutant for the D genome

FIG. 25 is a schematic representation showing the development of the SBE IIa construct. A) Biogemma vector, pDV03000; B) pBluescript carrying the full length cDNA of SBE IIa; C) SBE IIa construct in pDV03000; D) Sense IIa construct and E) Antisense IIa construct.

FIG. 26 is a schematic representation of the development of the SBE IIb construct. A) Biogemma vector, pDV03000; B) pGEM-T carrying a 1046bp fragment of SBE IIb; C) SBE IIb construct in pDV03000; D) Sense IIb construct and E) Antisense IIb construct.

FIG. 27 is a schematic representation of a SBE II duplex construct. A) SBE sequence inserted in between the promoter and the terminator in its linear form; B) Duplex formation of mRNA within the transgenic plant.

EXAMPLE 1 Isolation of BEII Genes from an A. tauschii Genomic Library and their Characterisation by PCR

Plant Material

Aegilops tauschii, CPI 110799, was used for the construction of the genomic library. Previously this accession has been shown to be most like the ancestral D genome donor of wheat, on the basis of the conservation of order of genetic markers (Lagudah et al. 1991). The Triticum aestivum cultivars Rosella, Wyuna and Chinese Spring were used for the construction of different cDNA libraries.

cDNA and Genomic Libraries

The construction of the cDNA and genomic libraries used in this example was as described in Rahman et al., (1997, 1999) and in Li et al. (1999). Conditions for library screening were hybridisation at 25% formamide, 5×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 10× Denhardts, 100 μg/ml salmon sperm DNA at 42° C. for 16 h, followed by washing at 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C. for 3×1 h.

Screening of a Wheat cDNA Library

Screening of a wheat cv Rosella cDNA library prepared from endosperm (mid-stage of development) with the maize SBE I clone (Baba et al., 1991) at low hybridisation stringency led to the isolation of two classes of positive plaques. One class hybridised strongly to the probe, and encoded wheat SBE I (Rahman et al., 1997, 1999). The second class was weakly hybridising. The clone with the longest insert from this second class was called SBE 9, and its sequence showed greater identity to SBE II than to SBE I type sequences. This was designated SBE IIa. The sequence of SBE 9 (SEQ ID NO:1) is set out in FIG. 1.

Screening of A. tauschii Genomic Library

A genomic library constructed from A. tauschii was screened by DNA hybridisation with SBE9, and four positive clones were purified. These were designated F1 to F4. The sequence from positions 537 to 890 of SBE9 was amplified by PCR, and used to screen the A. tauschii library again. Clones isolated from this screening are referred to as G1 and G2 and H1 to H8

(1) Number of BEII Type Genes in Wheat

The sequence of a branching enzyme gene, designated F2, from Aegilops tauschii was described in WO99/14314, and is given in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2). A probe generated from F2, designated F2.2, contained sequences from 2704 to 4456 bp of SEQ ID NO:2, and contained exons 4-9, introns 4-8, and parts of intron 3 and 9. Hybridisation of A. tauschii DNA (cut with four different restriction enzymes) with F2.2 revealed only one strongly hybridising band and several very faint bands (FIG. 3, panel B), consistent with the presence of a single BEII type gene in the A. tauschii genome. The cDNA clone, SBE9 (SEQ ID NO:1) has >95% identity to the exon regions of the F2 branching enzyme gene. A region of SBE9 from nucleotides 537 to 890, including exons 5 to 9, was used as a hybridisation probe, and gave a much more complex pattern (FIG. 3, panel A), strongly indicating that there is more than one BEII gene type in the A. tauschii genome.

EXAMPLE 2 PCR Analysis of BEIIa—Intron 5

PCR primers, sr913F (5′ ATC ACT TAC CGA GAA TGG G 3′, SEQ ID NO:3) and WBE2E6R (5′ CTG CAT TTG CAT TTC AAT TG 3′, SEQ ID NO:4) were designed to anneal to Exon 5 and Exon 6 respectively of the wheat F2 gene in order to amplify the intron region (Intron 5) between these exons. Analysis of the products of PCR reactions using these primers shows that the primers amplify fragments of 228 bp from the A-genome of wheat, 226 bp from the D genome and 217 bp from the B genome. These fragments were shown to be amplified from chromosome 2A, 2D and 2B of wheat respectively by analysis of nullisomic/tetrasomic chromosome-engineered lines of wheat. In addition to these fragments, a 262 bp fragment was amplified, and this fragment (designated the 262 bp Universal fragment) was not polymorphic among the chromosome engineered lines tested. The 262 bp Universal fragment and the A, B and D regions from the F2 gene were cloned and sequenced, and the sequence comparison is shown in FIG. 4.

EXAMPLE 3 Classification of the G1-G2 and H1-H10 Genes

PCR analysis using PCR primers sr913F (5′ ATC ACT TAC CGA GAA TGG G 3′, SEQ ID NO: 3) and WBE2E6R (5′ CTG CAT TTG GAT TTC AAT TG 3′, SEQ ID NO: 4) showed that the H1 to H10 lambda clones yielded an approximately 200 bp fragment, and the G1 and G2 clones yielded an approximately 260 bp fragment (FIG. 5). Partial sequencing of G1 and G2 showed that the parts of the sequence analysed had 80% identity with the exons 4 and 5 of wSBE II-DA1, but the intervening intron contained a sequence that showed no homology to any sequence contained within F2.

However, the G1 and G2 clones from A. tauschii showed 92.7% identity to the sequence of the 262 bp universal fragment amplified and cloned from hexaploid wheat, and an alignment of these sequences is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows an alignment of a region corresponding to the 537 to 890 bp region of the SBE9 clone from the cDNAs for barley BEIIb (Sun et al., 1995, Sun et al., 1998), SBE9, wheat BEIIb cDNA with the sequence from clone G1. Further sequencing of G1 led to the isolation of a sequence, shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:5), which showed high identity with the sequence reported by Sun et al.(1998) for the 5′ end of barley IIb cDNA and the partial sequence for the cognate gene. G1 and G2 therefore contain a gene which is distinct from F2, and which has high homology to barley BEIIb. We have designated this gene wSBE II-DB1.

EXAMPLE 4 Isolation of a Wheat BEIIb cDNA and an Additional Genomic Fragment

A barley cDNA library was constructed using 5 μg of polyA⁺ mRNA (1.67 μg of polyA⁺ mRNA from 10, 12 and 15 DPA endosperm tissues were pooled). cDNA was synthesised using the cDNA synthesis system marketed by Life Technology, except that the NotI-(dT)₁₈ primer (Pharmacia Biotech) was used to synthesise the first strand of cDNA. Pfu polymerase was added to the reaction after second strand synthesis to flush the ends of cDNAs. SalI-XhoI adapter (Stratagene) was then added to the cDNAs. cDNAs were ligated to SalI-NotI arms of λZipLox (Life Technology) after digestion of cDNAs with NotI followed by size fractionation (SizeSep 400 spun Column of Pharmacia Biotech). The entire ligation reaction (5 μl) was packaged using Gigapack III Gold packaging extract (Stratagene). The titre of the library was tested by transfecting either the Y1090(ZL) or the LE392 strain of E. coli.

Primers 1 and 2 (Sun et al. 1998)), were used for PCR amplification of a fragment from a barley cDNA library (Ali et al., 2000) using conditions described in Sun at al. (1998). The identity of this fragment was confirmed by sequence analysis, and the fragment was used as a probe to isolate a cDNA by hybridisation, cDNA from a cDNA library constructed from Chinese Spring (Li et al. 1999).

This cDNA was designed wBEIIb, and its sequence is shown in FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:6). This probe was also used to reprobe the genomic library from A. tauschii referred to above, and a clone, designated G5, was recovered from this screen. Analysis showed that the wBEIIb cDNA sequence showed 98.5% identity and the G5 sequence showed 100% identity to sequences already recovered from G1 and G2. G5 therefore represented the same wSBE II-DB1 gene, and the wBEIIb cDNA is a product of the orthologous gene in hexaploid wheat.

EXAMPLE 5 Relationships Between BEII Sequences

Deduced amino acid sequences for branching enzymes from various cereals were analysed using the PILEUP program from the GCG suite of programs (Devereux 1984), and an alignment of these sequences is shown in FIG. 10. The PILEUP analysis used a penalty of 12 for insertion of a gap and 0.1 for extending the gap per residue. The cDNA sequences used for this analysis were SBE9 (SEQ ID NO:1; FIG. 1), wheat BEIIb cDNA (SEQ ID NO:6; FIG. 9), Y11282, a wheat branching enzyme sequence (Nair et al. 1997), barley BEIIa (Sun et al. 1998), barley BEIIb (Sun et al. 1998); rice BEIII (Mizuno et al. 1993), rice BEIV (Genbank Accession No. E14723) maize BEIIa (Gao et al. 1997) and maize BEIIb (Fisher et al., 1993). The observed N-terminal of wheat (Morell et al., 1997; Y11282) is shown in bold.

The relationships between branching enzyme sequences are illustrated in FIG. 11, using a dendrogram generated by the PILEUP program. The sequences analysed were for wheat Y11282 (Nair at al., 1997), SBE 9 (FIG. 1), wheat BEIIb (FIG. 9), barley IIa and IIb (Sun et al. 1998), maize BEI (Kim et al, 1998), maize IIa (Gao et al. 1997), maize IIb (Fisher et al. 1993), Arabidopsis BEII (U22428, Fisher et al., 1996), Arabidopsis BEII (U18817, Fisher et al., 1996), rice I (Kawasaki et al., 1993), rice III (Mizuno et al. 1993), rice IV (Genbank accession E14723), potato BEI (Khoshnoodi et al. 1997), potato BE II (Cangiano et al 1993), pea BEI and BEII (Burton et al. 1995), E. coli BE (Baecker et al. 1986) and bacillus (Kiel et al 1992). Note that pea BE I and pea BE II sequences correspond to maize BE II and BE I respectively because of differences in nomenclature conventions.

On the basis of this comparison, the branching enzyme gene contained on clone F2 was classified as a BEIIa type gene and designated wSBE II-DA1.

EXAMPLE 6 Structure of the wSBE II-DA1 and wSBE II-DB1 Genes

FIG. 12 shows a comparison of the exon/intron structures of the wheat wSBE II-DA1 and wSBE II-DB1 genes. The structure of the wSBE II-DB1 gene is shown from the beginning of the wheat BEIIb cDNA through to exon 5. Hybridisation results suggest that regions at the 3′ end of the wheat BEIIb cDNA are not contained within any of the clones G1, G2 and G5. This is not surprising, as the maize SBE II b gene extends over 16.5 kb and required the isolation of two genomic clones (Kim et al 1998). The positions of the intron/exon boundaries for the first five introns of the wheat BEIIa and BEIIb genes are conserved, as shown in Table 1. The size of the first five introns in wSBE II-DB1 vary considerably in size from the first five introns in wSBE II-DA1.

TABLE 1 Exon/Intron Structures of Cereal branching Enzyme Genes Exons Introns Wheat Wheat Wheat Wheat wSBE II- Maize WSBE Barley wSBE Maize WSBE Barley DAl BEIIb II-DB1 BEIIb II-DA1 BEIIb II-DB1 BEIIb 1 123^(a) 112^(a) 148^(a) 121^(a) 1 327 106 148 105 2  98 146 146 152 2 276 244 663 2064 3 242 155 230 230 3 401 1086 465 388 4  99  99  99  99 4 169 76 74 74 5  43  43  43  43^(b) 5 152 196 181 6  60  60  60 6 335 499 442 7  81  81  81 7 83 81 79 8 117 117 117 8 288 567 178 9  81  84  84 9 629 775 10 122 122 10 175 751 11 120 120 11 974 4020 12 130 130 12 88 86 13 111 111 13 201 148 14 129 129 14 579 3051 15 104 104 15 841 872 16 145 145 16 1019 457 17 148 148 17 135 144 18 105 101 18 176 226 19  74  78 19 201 266 20 156 156 20 377 448 21  75  75 21 89 96 22 384  84 ^(a)Exon 1 numbering begins from ATG of translation start codon ^(b)Partial sequence for exon or intron

EXAMPLE 7 Expression Analysis at the mRNA Level

RNA from endosperm at different developmental stages was obtained from wheat grown in the glasshouse as described in Li et al. (1999). RNA was extracted by the method of Higgins et al. (1976), separated on denaturing formamide gels and blotted onto Hybond N+ paper, essentially as described in Maniatis et al. (1992). Probes were prepared from the extreme 3′ ends of SBE9 (bases 2450 to 2640 of SEQ ID NO:1) and wBEIIb cDNA (bases 2700 to 2890 of SEQ ID NO:6) by PCR using the following scheme: 94° C., 2 min, 1 cycle, 94° C., 30 s, 55° C., 30 s, 72° C., 30 s, 36 cycles, 72° C. 5 min, 1 cycle, 25° C., 1 min, 1 cycle. The probes were from the 3′ untranslated region, and were specific for either wSBE II-DA1 or wSBE II-DB1 type sequences. An RNA species of about 2.9 kb hybridised to each probe (FIG. 13 Panel B). However, the intensity of hybridisation determined by densitometry, and normalised for differences in RNA loading), indicated that RNA hybridising to the wSBE II-DB1 gene was present at 2.5 to 3 fold lower concentration than RNA hybridising to the wSBE II-DA1 gene

EXAMPLE 8 Analysis of Branching Enzymes by Affinity Electrophoresis Demonstrates that only BEIIa is Predominant in the Soluble Fraction

In Morell et al., (1997), we reported that only a single form of branching enzyme II could be identified in the wheat developing endosperm soluble fraction. However, this was on the basis of anion-exchange chromatography, and it remained possible that there were multiple forms, even though they could not be separated by this technique. Matsumoto has developed an affinity electrophoresis method for measuring the interaction of branching enzymes with polysaccharide substrates (Matsumoto et al., 1990), and we have further developed this technique specifically to allow the separation of the branching enzyme IIa forms encoded by each of the three wheat genomes. FIG. 14 shows an immunoblot of a non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis experiment in which the gel matrix contained the β-limit dextrin of maize amylopectin alone (FIG. 14, lanes 1 and 2), showing separation of three forms of branching enzyme IIa. Resolution is slightly enhanced by the addition of the α-amylase inhibitor acarbose (FIG. 14, lanes 3,4 and 5), and substantially enhanced by the addition of α-cyclodextrin (FIG. 14 lanes 6, 7 and 8).

A non-denaturing gel was prepared, containing a stacking gel composed of 0.125 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 6.8), 6% acrylamide, 0.06% ammonium persulphate and 0.1% TEMED. The separating gel was composed of three panels. The basic non-denaturing gel mix contained 0.34 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.8), CHAPS (0.05%), glycerol (10.3%), acrylamide (6.2%), 0.06% ammonium persulphate, 0.1% TEMED and the β-limit dextrin of maize amylopectin (0.155%). Panel A (lanes 1 and 2) contained only the basic non-denaturing gel reagents. Panel B (Lanes 3, 4 and 5) contained the basic non-denaturing gel reagents and 0.066 mM acarbose. Panel C (lanes 6, 7 and 8) contained the basic non-denaturing gel reagents and 0.067 mM α-cyclodextrin.

Following electrophoresis at 100 V for 16 hours at 4° C., the proteins in the separating gel were transferred to nitrocellulose membrane according to Morell et al (1997) and immunoreacted with 1:5000 dilution of 3KLH antibodies (raised against the synthetic peptide AASPGKVLVPDESDDLGC (SEQ ID NO:7) coupled to the keyhole limpet hemocyanin via the heterobifunctional reagent m-Maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester).

The use of a β-limit dextrin provides a superior separation because it prevents interference with the separation by endogenous β-amylases in the wheat endosperm tissue, and the use of α-cyclodextrin in the assay further enhances the separation. Without wishing to limit the invention by any proposed mechanism, we believe that this enhancement may result from the inhibition of endogenous wheat endosperm α-amylases.

The analysis shows that three branching enzyme II proteins are present, and that each of these proteins cross-reacts with antibodies to a synthetic oligopeptide designed from the N-terminal region of the BEIIa protein in a region that shares no homology with the wheat BEIIb protein.

The soluble fraction of the wheat endosperm was reacted with various antibodies raised against peptides designed on the basis of the sequences of the wheat BEIIa (see FIG. 12) or the wheat BEIIb cDNA. FIG. 15 shows that only 3KLH, raised against the N-terminus of BEIIa, cross-reacted with proteins (marked by arrows) in the soluble fraction which show a specific shift in mobility in the presence of the β-limit dextrin of amylopectin and α-cyclodextrin. Gels were prepared as described in FIG. 14, except that the gel used in Panel A contained the non-denaturing gel mix without the β-limit dextrin of maize amylopectin. Panel B contained the non-denaturing gel mix plus α-cyclodextrin. An extract of developing wheat endosperm was prepared using 3 volumes of extraction buffer per g of tissue, and 140 μl of sample applied per gel. Following electrophoresis at 100 V for 16 hours at 4° C., the proteins in the separating gel were transferred to nitrocellulose membrane according to Morell et al (1997) which was cut into 1 cm strips. The antibodies prepared were 3KLH (see FIG. 11), R6 (raised in rabbit against the synthetic peptide AGGPSGEVMIGC (SEQ ID NO:8) coupled to the keyhole limpet hemocyanin via the heterobifunctional reagent m-Maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester); pre-immune serum from the R6 rabbit; R7 (raised in rabbit against the synthetic peptide GGTPPSIDGPVQDSDGC (SEQ ID NO:9) coupled to the keyhole limpet hemocyanin via the heterobifunctional reagent m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester) and pre-immune serum from the R7 rabbit.

As in FIG. 14, the BEIIa protein is separated into three forms (indicated by arrows in FIG. 15, Panel B), by affinity electrophoresis in the presence of β-limit dextrin. In barley (Sun et al., 1997) and maize (Bayer and Preiss 1981) both branching enzymes IIa and IIb are present in the soluble fraction. In some subsequent experiments we have detected low levels of BE IIb in the soluble fraction. The separation of the forms of BEIIa encoded by each wheat genome is demonstrated in FIG. 16. In Panel (A) the diploid A. tauschii (lanes 2,3 and 4) and barley line (lane 11) yields a single band. However, the tetraploid T. durum lines (Panel A lane 1, Panel B, lanes 1, 16, and 17) and hexaploid T. aestivum lines (Panel A lanes 5-10, Panel B lanes 2-15, 18-19) give at least 2 bands. Some hexaploid lines (panel A, lane 7 and 9, Panel B lanes 2-6, lanes 8-9, lane 13) yield 2 bands, indicating either that they are null for one genome or that the products of two genomes migrate with identical mobility in the gel system.

The use of the separation system as a means of screening for wheat genomes with altered or null alleles of branching enzyme IIa is demonstrated by FIG. 14 (Panel B), where different lines are shown to have different numbers and mobilities of branching enzyme IIa proteins.

EXAMPLE 9 Presence of Two Classes of Proteins in the Starch Granule at 88 kDa and their Differential Antibody Binding

The wheat starch granule contains a number of proteins that have been analysed by SDS-PAGE (Rahman et al., 1995, Denyer at al., 1995, Takaoka et al, Li et al., 1999a, Li et al, 1999b) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (Yamamori and Endo, 1996). The following bands have been identified: 60 kDa, GBSS; 75 kDa, SSI; 100 kDa, 108 kDa and 115 kDa, SSII). An 88 kDa band is also observed, and has been shown to be associated with branching enzyme activity (Denyer et al., 1995) and to react to antibodies to maize BEII (Rahman et al., 1995). This protein band was shown to contain at least two protein components.

This analysis has been extended by purification and analysis of the individual granule proteins. The granule proteins were isolated from 4.7 g of wheat starch granules by boiling in 24 ml of SDS buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 6.8, 10% SDS and 6.25% 2-mercaptothanol) as described by Rahman et al., (1995). Residual granular starch was removed by centrifugation, and granule proteins were separated by applying the supernatant to a 9% SDS-PAGE gel prepared in a Biorad Model 491 Prep Cell apparatus. The SDS gel contained a stacking gel composed of 0.125 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 6.8), 0.25% SDS, 6% acrylamide, 0.06% ammonium persulphate and 0.1% TEMED and a separating gel containing 0.34 M Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.8), 0.25% SDS, acrylamide (9%), 0.06% ammonium persulphate, and 0.1% TEMED. The samples were electrophoresised at 60 mAmp constant current for 16 hours, and fractions of ractions (5 ml) collected by a pump operating at 0.5 ml/min. Fractions were analysed by SDS-PAGE, and fractions containing an 88 kDA band precipitated by the addition of 3 volumes of acetone. The precipitate from each 5 ml fraction was collected by centrifugation, the sample dissolved in SDS buffer, and electrophoresed through a standard 8% SDS-PAGE gel. The lane was excised from the gel and renatured in 0.04 M Tris for 2 hours. To generate a two-dimensional separation, the gel was then laid across the top of a second non-denaturing PAGE gel and electrophoresed. Proteins were identified by staining with Coomassie blue (a 50:50 mixture of 2.5% Coomassie Blue R-250 and Coomassie Blue G250 solutions).

FIG. 17, Panel (A) shows that two proteins were visible after staining, and these were designated 88 kD (U) and 88 kD (L), as indicated by the arrows. Immunoblotting of the two-dimensional gel with peptide antibodies to the N-terminal of BEIIa (3KLH) and to the N-terminus of the wheat BEIIb cDNA sequence (R6; see FIGS. 12 and 13 for details of the antibodies are set out in Example 8) indicated preferential binding of the R6 antibody to 88 kD (U) and preferential binding of 3KLH to 88 kD (L) (FIG. 17, Panel B), providing a provisional assignment of these proteins as BEIIb and BEIIa respectively.

The proteins were further analysed by digestion with trypsin, and the peptides released were identified by MALDI-TOF analysis at the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Macquarie University, Sydney. The results of this analysis, shown in Table 2, demonstrated that 88 kD (U) was the product of the wheat BEIIb gene, and that while the assignment of 88 kD (L) was inconclusive, the results were consistent with the protein being a branching enzyme encoded by either SBE9 or the wheat BEIIb cDNA.

TABLE 2 (a)  Comparison of 88 kD (U) and the predicted protein encoded by the wheat BEIIb cDNA. Matches: 6 MOWSE Score: 4.97e+001 Coverage: 8.85% Matching Peptides: SEQ MW Delta Start End Sequence ID NO: 755.4766 −0.13 320 325 (K) RPKSLR (I) 38 1337.7092 0.01 453 463 (R) VFNYGNKEVIR (F) 39 1337.6728 −0.03 703 713 (R) RFDLGDAEFLR (Y) 40 1508.7623 −0.12 785 799 (K) VVLDSDAGLFGGFGR (I) 41 1589.6933 −0.08 731 743 (K) YGFMTSDHQYVSR (K) 42 1692.7049 −0.17 184 198 (R) SDIDEHEGGMDVFSR (G) 43 1706.8740 −0.04 340 353 (K) INTYANFRDEVLPR (I) 44 (b)  Comparison of 88 kD (L) and the predicted proteins encoded by the wheat BEIIb cDNA and SBE9 cDNA. Matches to wheat BEIIb cDNA Matches: 8 MOWSE Score: 1.32e+003 Likelihood: 2.053 + 003 Coverage: 11.72% Matching Peptides: SEQ MW Delta Start End Sequence ID NO: 819.4603 11.23 464 470 (R) FLLSNAR (W) 45 1210.5090 −105.27 444 452 (R) GHHWMWDSR (V) 46 1337.7092 10.53 453 463 (R) VFNYGNKEVIR (F) 39 1337.6728 −16.68 703 713 (R) RFDLGDAEFLR (Y) 40 1508.7623 −44.33 785 799 (K) VVLDSDAGLFGGFGR (I) 41 1573.7446 −16.81 326 339 (R) IYETHVGMSSPEPK (I) 47 1589.6933 −23.46 731 743 (K) YGFMTSDHQYVSR (K) 42 1692.7049 −95.07 184 198 (R) SDIDEHEGGMDVFSR (G) 43 1706.8740 −15.57 340 353 (K) INTYANFRDEVLPR (I) 44 Matches to wheat SBE9 Matches: 6 MOWSE Score: 1.04e+001 Coverage: 8.63% Matching Peptides: SEQ MW Delta Start End Sequence ID NO: 819.4603 11.23 451 457 (R) FLLSNAR (W) 45 1210.5090 −105.27 431 439 (R) GHHWMWDSR (V) 46 1508.7875 −27.64 145 156 (K) IYEIDPTLKDFR (S) 48 1573.7446 −16.81 313 326 (R) IYESHIGMSSPEPK (I) 49 1599.7641 −9.93 171 185 (R) AAIDQHEGGLEAFSR (G) 50 1692.8583 −4.45 327 340 (K) INSYANFRDEVLPR (I) 51

EXAMPLE 10 Sequencing of the SBE IIb Gene

A partial genomic sequence of the SBEIIb gene was obtained, using clone G5 described in Example 4. So far approximately 8.4 kb of sequence has been obtained. This includes approximately 500bp upstream of the start codon, presumably comprising the promoter region, and exons 1 to 14 in full. This partial sequence is set out in SEQ ID NO:10. From the sequences of the corresponding maize and Arabidopsis BEII genes, we would expect the gene to contain 22 exons. A comparison between the exon/intron structures of various BEII genes and the wheat BEIIb gene is shown in FIG. 18, and the sizes of the exons in various SBEII genes are compared in Table 3. In this table “Arab” represents Arabidopsis.

TABLE 3 Sizes of exons in various SBE IIb genes Wheat Maize Barley Wheat Exon no Arab21 Arab22 BEIIa BEIIb BEIIb BEIIb 1 42 124 279 212 121 148 2 253 120 98 146 152 146 3 236 182 243 155 230 230 4 99 99 99 99 99 99 5 43 43 43 43 43 43 6 60 60 60 60 60 7 81 81 81 81 81 8 117 117 117 117 117 9 84 84 84 84 84 10 122 122 122 122 122 11 120 120 120 120 120 12 130 130 130 130 130 13 111 111 111 111 111 14 129 129 129 129 129 15 104 104 104 104 16 145 145 145 145 17 148 148 148 18 101 101 101 19 78 78 78 20 156 156 156 21 75 75 75 22 90 384 304 17 558 18 164

Using a probe specific for the 3′ end of SBE IIb, three clones designated G7, G8 and G9 respectively, have now been isolated from the T. tauschii genomic library, and are being subjected co sequence analysis to provide the 3′ region of the gene.

EXAMPLE 11 Development of PCR Primer Sets for the Discrimination of the BEIIb Genes from each Genome

A number of primer sets, designed on the basis of comparisons between SBE IIa and SBE IIb genes, were tested on wheat genomic DNA. The sequences of these primers were as follows:

SEQ ID NO: 11 ARA 12F: 5′ CCG TCC TAC ATG ACA CCT GGC CG 3′ SEQ ID NO: 12 ARA 10R: 5′ CCG CCG GAT CGA GGA GCC GAC GG 3′ SEQ ID NO: 13 ARA 6F: 5′ GGC GGC GGC GAC GGG ATG GCT GC 3′ SEQ ID NO: 14 ARA 8R: 5′ CGC CGT CAG GGA TCA TCA CCT CC 3′ SEQ ID NO: 15 ARA 19F: 5′ CAC CCA TTG TAA TTG GGT ACA CTG 3′ SEQ ID NO: 16 ARA 15R 5′ TCC ATG CCT CCT TCG TGT TCA TCA 3′ SEQ ID NO: 17 ARA 23R 5′ CTG CGC ATA AAT CCA AAC TTC TCG 3′

Targeting the promoter region of SBE IIb using the primers ARA 12F and ARA 13R resulted in the specific amplification of only the D genome gene. Aneuploid analysis using this pair of primers showed that the SBE IIb was located on the long arm of chromosome 2 in wheat, as ilisutrated in FIG. 19.

The primers ARA6F and ARA8R, which amplify the exon 1-intron 1-exon 2 region of SBE IIb, could distinguish the D genome from the A and B genomes, as shown in FIG. 20. Sequence analysis of this region indicated that the genes from the A and B genomes completely lack intron 1. This is illustrated in FIG. 21.

EXAMPLE 12 Identification of SBE IIb in Genomes A, B and D

Sequence analysis of the intron 3 region of SBE IIb, amplified by PCR using the primers ARA 19F and ARA 15R, followed by digestion using the restriction enzyme Rsa1, revealed significant polymorphism amongst the three genomes. This polymorphism, illustrated in the sequnce alignment set out in FIG. 22, was utilised to develop genome specific markers which can distinguish between the A, B and D genomes.

PCR amplification of the SBE IIb gene was carried out using the primers ARA 19F and ARA 15R, followed by restriction digestion using Rsa1. The results of the PCR analysis, shown in FIG. 23, indicate that these primers can distinguish between the three genomes.

Screening of approximately 600 wheat lines using the genome specific primer pair, ARA 19F and ARA 23R, which amplifies the same region as ARA 19F and ARA 15R, identified one null mutant of the wheat genome. The amplification was performed as described for FIG. 23, and the results are shown in FIG. 24.

EXAMPLE 13 Constructs for Expression of BEII Genes

Recombinant DNA technology may be used to inhibit or abolish expression of either or both of BE IIa and BE IIb. Three general approaches are used, using transformation of the target plant cells with one of the following types of construct:

a) ‘Antisense’ constructs of SBE IIa and SBE IIb, in which the desired nucleic acid sequence is inserted into the construct in the opposite direction to the functional gene.

b) ‘Sense’ constructs of SBE IIa and SBE IIb, in which the desired nucleic acid is inserted in the same direction as the functional gene; this utilises co-suppression events to inhibit the expression of the target gene;

c) Duplex constructs of SBE IIa and SBE IIb, in which the desired nucleic acid in both the sense and antisense orientations is co-located in the construct on either side of a “spacer” loop formed by an intron sequence.

In all three cases, the desired nucleic acid is operably linked to a promoter sequence in the construct.

Sense and antisense constructs have been widely used to modulate gene expression in plants. More recently, it has been shown that the delivery of RNAs with potential to form duplexes is a particularly efficient strategy for generating post-transcriptional gene silencing in transgenic plants (Waterhouse at al., 1998; Smith et al., 2000).

Transformation of the target wheat cells, or cells of other plants, using these constructs is effected using methods known in the art, such as transformation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Once transgenic plants are obtained, they are assessed for the effects of the transgenes on BE IIa and BE IIb expression. For example, in both maize and potato it has been shown that crossing BE II mutations or BE II transgenes into BE I-deficient backgrounds greatly increases amylose content. Wheat BE I null lines, identified using the methods described in WO99/14314, provide a ready source of BE I-deficient genetic material into which BE IIa and BE IIb transgenics can be crossed, in order to extend further the range of starches which can be produced.

Sense, antisense and duplex constructs of SBE IIa and SBE IIb were generated in the vector pDV03000 (Biogemma Ltd, UK) which carries the high molecular weight gluten promoter (pHMWG) and the Nopaline synthase (Nos) terminator. These constructs are schematically represented in FIGS. 25, 26 and 27. The Biogemma vectors are based on the well-known plasmid pBR322, and comprise a number of restriction sites, as illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, for incorporation of desired DNA sequences. The entire desired DNA, plus the promoter and terminator sequences referred to above, can then be excised as a Xho fragment and cloned into a suitable vector, such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Those skilled in the art will be aware of other suitable vectors which could be used.

SBE IIa Constructs

A sense construct of SB IIa was prepared by inserting a 2143bp fragment of SBE IIa coding sequence in the sense orientation at the EcoR1/Sma1 site of pDV03000. An SBE IIa antisense construct was prepared by inserting 1913 bp of SBE IIa coding sequence in the antisense orientation at the EcoR1/BamH1 site of pDV03000. This is also illustrated in FIG. 25.

SBE IIb Constructs

A sense construct of SBE IIb was generated by inserting a 1008 bp fragment of the SBE IIb coding sequence in the sense orientation at the EcoR1/Sma1 site of pDV03000. An antisense SBE IIb construct was prepared by inserting a 955 bp sequence of the coding region for SBE IIb at the BamH1/Pst1 site of pDV03000 in the antisense orientation. This is illustrated in FIG. 26.

Duplex Constructs

A schematic model of a duplex construct is set out in FIG. 27. The duplex construct was prepared using the following protocol, in which all the amplification steps were performed using PCR under conventional conditions.

SBE IIa Duplex

1) a 468 bp sequence of SBE IIa, which includes the whole of exons 1 and 2 and part of exon 3, with EcoR1 and Kpn1 restriction sites on either side, was amplified to obtain a first fragment (fragment 1);

2) a second fragment, 512 bp in length, consisting of part of exons 3 and 4, and the whole of intron 3 of SBE IIa, with Kpn1 and Sac1 sites on either side, was amplified to provide fragment 2;

3) a 528 bp fragment consisting of the complete exons 1, 2 and 3 of SBE IIa, with BamH1 and Sac1 sites on either side, was amplified to provide fragment 3;

4) fragments 1, 2 and 3 were ligated so that the sequence of fragment 3 was ligated to fragment 2 in the antisense orientation to fragment 1.

SBE IIb Duplex

1) a 471 bp sequence consisting of the whole of exons 1 and 2 and part of exon 3 of SBE IIb was amplified with EcoRI and KpnI restriction sites on either side to generate fragment 1;

2) a 589 bp fragment consisting of part of exons 3 and 4 and the whole of intron 3 of SBE IIb, with Kpn1 and Sac1 sites on either side, was amplified to provide fragment 2;

3) a 528 bp fragment consisting of the complete exons 1, 2 and 3, with BamH1 and Sac1 sites on either side was amplified to provide fragment 3;

4) fragments 1, 2 and 3 were ligated so that fragment 3 was in the antisense orientation to fragment 1 when ligated to fragment 2.

The start and end points of the sequences used for making the constructs were as follows:

a) SBE IIa Sense Construct

-   Start: 461bp of Sbe 9 (SBE IIa) cDNA -   End: 2603bp of Sbe 9 (SBE IIa) cDNA     b) SBE IIa Anti-Sense Construct -   Start: 691bp of Sbe 9 (SBE IIa) cDNA -   End: 2603bp of Sbe 9 (SBE IIa) cDNA     This fragment was ligated in the anti-sense orientation.     c) SBE IIb Sense Construct -   Start: 85bp of SBE IIb cDNA -   End: 1085bp of SBE IIb cDNA     d) SBE IIb Anti-Sense Construct -   Start: 153bp of SBE IIb cDNA -   End: 1085bp of SBE IIb cDNA     This fragment was ligated in the anti-sense orientation.     e) SBE IIa Duplex Construct     i) Fragment 1

Full exon 1: 1151bp-1336bp of SBE IIa genomic sequence

Full exon 2: 1664bp-1761bp of SBE IIa genomic sequence

Partial exon 3: 2038bp-2219bp of SBE IIa genomic sequence

This fragment had an EcoR1 site (GAATTC) introduced at the start of the exon 1 sequence and a KpnI site (GGTACC) introduced at the end of the partial exon 3 sequence.

ii) Fragment 2

Partial exon 3: 2220bp-2279bp of SBE IIa genomic sequence

Full intron 3: 2280bp-2680bp of SBE IIa genomic sequence

Partial exon 4: 2681bp-2731bp of SBE IIa genomic sequence

This fragment had a KpnI site (GGTACC) introduced at the start of the partial exon 3 and a SacI site (GAGCTC) introduced at the end of the partial exon 4 sequence.

iii) Fragment 3

Full exon 1: 1151bp-1336bp of SBE IIa genomic sequence

Full exon 2: 1664bp-1761bp of SBE IIa genomic sequence

Full exon 3: 2038bp-2279bp of SBE IIa genomic sequence

This fragment had a BamH1 site (GGATCC) introduced at the start of the complete exon 1 sequence and a Sac1 site (GAGCTC) introduced at the end of the complete exon 3 sequence.

f) SBE IIb Duplex Construct

i) Fragment 1

Full exon 1: 489bp-640bp of SBE IIb genomic sequence

Full exon 2: 789bp-934bp of SBE IIb genomic sequence

Partial exon 3: 1598 bp-1770 bp of SBE IIb genomic sequence

This fragment had an EcoR1 site (GAATTC) introduced at the start of exon 1 and a Kpn1 site (GGTACC) introduced at the end of the partial exon 3 sequence.

ii) Fragment 2

Partial exon 3: 1771bp-1827bp of SBE IIb genomic sequence

Full intron 3: 1828bp-2292bp of SBE IIb genomic sequence

Partial exon 4: 2293bp-2359bp of SBE IIb genomic sequence

This fragment had a Kpn1 site (GGTACC) introduced at the start of the partial exon.3 sequence and a Sac1 site (GAGCTC) introduced at the end of the partial exon 4 sequence.

iii) Fragment 3

Full exon1: 489bp-640bp of SBE IIb genomic sequence

Full exon 2: 789bp-934bp of SBE IIb genomic sequence

Full exon 3: 1598bp-1827bp of SBE IIb genomic sequence

This fragment had a BamH1 site (GGATCC) introduced at the start of exon 1 and a Sac1 site (GAGCTC) introduced at the end of exon 3.

The SBE IIa and SBE IIb duplexes thus formed were respectively inserted at the EcoR1/BamH1 site of pDV03000.

Samples of λ phage clones G5 and G9 have been deposited in the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories, acting as an International Depository Authority under the Budapest Treaty on 20 Feb. 2001, under accession numbers NM01/19255 and NM01/19256 respectively.

It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that while the invention has been described in some detail for the purposes of clarity and understanding, various modifications and alterations to the embodiments and methods described herein may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concept disclosed in this specification.

References cited herein are listed on the following pages, and are incorporated herein by this reference.

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1. A wheat plant comprising a null allele of a gene on a long arm of chromosome 2 encoding wheat starch branching enzyme IIb (BEIIb), in combination with one or more null alleles of genes which encode starch branching enzyme IIa (BEIIa), granule bound starch synthase (GBSS), starch synthase II (SSII) or starch branching enzyme I (BEI).
 2. The wheat plant of claim 1, wherein the gene encoding BEIIb is a wSBEII gene on a long arm of chromosome 2D.
 3. The wheat plant of claim 1, wherein the gene encoding BEIIb corresponds to the partial BEIIb gene present on λ phage clone G5, wherein a sample of G5 has been deposited with the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories under Accession No. NM01/19255.
 4. The wheat plant of claim 2, wherein the wSBEII gene comprises introns of the following sizes: intron 1, 148 base pairs; intron 2, 663 base pairs; intron 3, 465 base pairs; intron 4, 74 base pairs; intron 5, 181 base pairs; intron 6, 442 base pairs; intron 7, 79 base pairs; and intron 8, 178 base pairs.
 5. The wheat plant of claim 1, wherein the gene encoding BEIIb encodes an RNA corresponding to a cDNA having a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 6. 6. The wheat plant of claim 1, further comprising a null allele of a second gene encoding BEIIb.
 7. The wheat plant of claim 1, wherein the grain of the plant comprises an altered amylose-to-amylopectin ratio.
 8. The wheat plant of claim 2, further comprising a null allele of a second gene encoding BEIIb.
 9. The wheat plant of claim 1, comprising more than one null alleles of genes which encodes BEIIa. 